[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-became-the-patron-of-villains":3,"chapter-became-the-patron-of-villains-became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-398":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Became the Patron of Villains",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},759688,1006,"Chapter 398: What the Hell Is That……? (1)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-398",398,"\u003Cp>Alon was only out of it for a moment after witnessing the cosmic-horror spectacle of the venom-swallowing one’s head instantly changing into Blackie’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuu?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the venom-swallowing one’s—no, Blackie’s head tilted slightly as if in confusion, Alon cautiously opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Blackie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called out, just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Blackie that had been wearing the venom-swallowing one’s shape until a moment ago let out a low little kyuu— and, without Alon even realizing it, started shrinking that body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuu!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, it returned to its original size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......While still keeping the venom-swallowing one’s form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon stared, it tilted its head again, and only then seemed to realize it still hadn’t changed back from the venom-swallowing one. Blackie finally twisted its body back to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As spider legs slipped out and vanished again and again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...... what is even happening °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia, who had followed after Alon a beat late, stared at Blackie and asked in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......I don’t know either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Blackie stroll up like nothing had happened and rub its body against Alon’s leg, he couldn’t answer anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A little later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re saying Blackie absorbed the venom-swallowing one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think that’s what happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia asked like she couldn’t wrap her head around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you think I would?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re Blackie’s owner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was also true that Alon didn’t know much about Blackie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first place, the only thing he did know was that Blackie’s true identity was a Shadow Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon looked at Blackie, which was repeating the cycle of changing into the venom-swallowing one and changing back in front of Basiliora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Tsk. It’s hideous beyond belief.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basiliora clicked its tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that comment irritated Blackie—something seeped out of Blackie’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Huh? KRAAAAAAAH! What is this! Kiiiyaaaaaahk—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Basiliora touched that leaking mist, Basiliora thrashed around in agony like a fish hooked on a line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching that scene, Penia slowly opened her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s something the venom-swallowing one used, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......I think so. The power looks a lot lower, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was staring in disbelief when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creeeak, the door opened, and Evan came in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, like you told me, I checked, and they say the swallowing one’s corpse and even its traces disappeared without a trace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it really did absorb it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had realized the corpse that should’ve been where Blackie had been earlier was gone, so he’d had Evan look into it just in case—and sure enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Last time, I saw it absorb a monster too, so I figured absorption itself was possible, but I didn’t think it would be able to absorb Divine blood.......’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who had been quietly sinking into thought, called to Blackie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blackie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuu?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you turn into the swallowing one too? You don’t have to become the original form, of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s command, Blackie tilted its head a couple times like it was no big deal, then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>in an instant, it morphed into the swallowing one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An obscenely huge head, and dozens of legs with webbed, paddle-like growths—like they were made to swim through the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Whoa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay, that’s even grosser than I thought......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia blurted out in awe, and Evan started looking pale at the tentacle-like legs that had to be dozens—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuuu—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Blackie, still holding the swallowing one’s exterior, quickly returned its body to normal, then slumped like it didn’t have any strength left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackie looked completely drained as it started to melt across the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia, who had been observing it with fascinated intensity, exclaimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It looks like it needs stored mana to transform.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stored mana?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Up until now, I think it was transforming using the mana it got from you in the last battle, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded at her analysis—only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glurp—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sprawled-out Blackie made a suspicious noise, then spat something out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......This is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is that......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two black stones that looked like they wouldn’t allow even a single ray of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon checked them, then turned back to Blackie, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuuu—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like it was utterly exhausted, it let out a small whine and crawled straight into Alon’s coat pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......It’ll be a strong asset, but it looks like we’ll need some research.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Penia’s gaze, glittering with curiosity as she chased after Blackie—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days passed, and once Alon had recovered to a degree—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>after researching Blackie with Penia, Alon learned two interesting facts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First: if Blackie had enough mana, it could transform into the Divine blood it had absorbed at any time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and even if not perfectly, it could use their abilities in a weakened form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second: even though it could transform into Divine blood, it couldn’t transform into the monsters it had absorbed so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second point wasn’t a major problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Alon, what mattered was that Blackie had gained a new ability, and that it would be meaningful support to his fighting strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If Blackie can transform into all the Divine blood it absorbed.......’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A question suddenly rose in Alon’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About Blackie’s true nature—something he’d already thought about again and again while researching it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘......If I go ask Kylrus, I’ll know for sure.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon smacked his lips in regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was Kylrus, maybe Kylrus could tell him something—anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kylrus was a mage who used dragon spirits, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately, Alon couldn’t meet Kylrus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, the ‘Feet That Run Through the Past’ he’d been using to meet with Kylrus hadn’t worked properly ever since the battle with Divine blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like it was broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘......I should show it to Alexion.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering that Alexion had a knack for handling artifacts, Alon tucked the Feet That Run Through the Past into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If even Alexion doesn’t have a real solution...... do I have to go find Linethius, at least?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden dragon Linethius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Alon’s thoughts reached the dragon he’d met the first time he went to the borderlands—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, you’re planning to leave soon, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan asked, and Alon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soon, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where will you go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, if things went as planned, Alon’s next destination should’ve been Fildagreen, or the mage tower—or if not that, then Teria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, not just that. If he wanted to dig into Blackie properly, he needed to stop by the marquis’s estate first, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......Come to think of it, he had to consider Divine Land as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he thought for only a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he made a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......First, we go to Caliban.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Caliban?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. We’ll head there, then I think we can return to the marquis’s estate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Ah, right. You do have work that needs to be handled at the marquis’s estate. Then I’ll assume we’re leaving tomorrow and make preparations in advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded, ending the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, the next day—after telling Karsemm he would be leaving Colony—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was moving to board the carriage that, miraculously, hadn’t taken any damage despite the city being smashed to pieces, when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you so much, Marquis!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he ran into the people of Colony, bowing deeply to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was thanking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t like he’d done it to receive thanks—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but still, Alon scratched his cheek, embarrassed, accepting the greetings while also feeling a question rise up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had helped, but in the end, Seollang was the one who dealt with the Divine blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, why do you look so sulky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Because Seollang killed the Divine blood......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true, but you weren’t exactly nothing either, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan didn’t seem to see it that way, at least.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll definitely repay this debt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, talking like that, Alon reached the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exchanged final farewells with Karsemm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher! If anything happens, call me anytime!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also said goodbye to Seollang, who was smiling brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you need me, call for me too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, got it! And if you need me, Teacher, you have to tell me too! I’ll be waiting anytime!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang nodded while being petted by Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stared straight into Seollang’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he boarded the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the carriage left Colony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after some time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuu—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[KRAAAAAAAH! You crazy bastard! Let me go! Hey! Don’t just watch—help me!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right, Marquis. Come to think of it, there was something I still hadn’t told you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who had been watching Blackie turn into the swallowing one (small) and gulp Basiliora down, turned his gaze to Evan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More news?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In a lot of ways, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yesterday, they say Divine blood appeared in Teria as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......In Teria?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon looked startled, Evan answered right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don’t think you need to worry too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Don’t tell me a friendly Divine blood appeared in Teria too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not that....... Just to give you the conclusion first, they say Teria succeeded in dealing with the Divine blood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teria dealt with Divine blood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Evan’s answer, a question rose in Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘......Is there someone in Teria who can face Divine blood?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Alon shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As far as he knew, there was no one in Teria who could stop Divine blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—at this point, it was more accurate to say there was no country and no individual that could withstand Divine blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine blood Alon had faced was so strong that even he—fully prepared and not letting his guard down—had been forced to click his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Who?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Alon asked, and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, honestly, I can’t say I believe it that much either, but.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan scratched his head, drew it out, then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to what the information guild passed along, it seems the king handled the Divine blood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......The king?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. At least, according to the information.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the kind of news that could only turn his mind completely white.\u003C\u002Fp>",1666,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","e58186e4bb13ce90348f8e34166686a43c15a353ccf0ec93b13f36278f2d6d43","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-399","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-397",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]